And what do you say to that? (Survey, video): Every year, the Bergsilvester discussion greets
The fireworks on the Seegrube as part of the Bergsilvester is traditionally a controversial topic in city politics. In the city, even the residents and their pets are treated to fireworks in their private lives as a result of the rising surface. A satisfactory solution does not yet appear to be in sight. What do you say on the subject? A BezirksBlätter Innsbruck view of the current situation and the mountain New Year’s Eve in recent years.
INNSBRUCK. The municipal council decided on the fireworks on the Seegrube at the turn of the year. Mayor Georg Willi’s announcement that he did not want to hold the fireworks caused a political tremor. However, the fireworks on the Seegrube have not become a burden for the population in recent years.
The number of private fireworks and the continuous “banging” in some parts of the city long before the turn of the year caused a lack of understanding and annoyance among the residents. Pets are particularly affected. In Innsbruck, for example, E.g. 4,506 dogs registered. In addition to the nuisance, there are littered parks and green spaces as well as numerous damage to park benches and bones in the parks. The city regularly receives many calls on New Year’s Eve, and complaints about this are on the rise.
“We appeal to the population to be considerate when firing firecrackers or to refrain from doing so altogether”, was the previous municipal appeal to the personal responsibility and solidarity of Innsbruck’s citizens.
Should MÜG and the police control firecrackers and fireworks more closely?
ban
Fireworks may not be fired within the city limits. Fireworks may be legally sold by the relevant specialist trade, but according to the applicable pyrotechnics law, firing them is generally prohibited in the local area and in the vicinity of hospitals, churches, nursing homes, childcare facilities and crowds of people. At the turn of the year 2021/2022, the city’s Mobile Surveillance Group (MÜG), in cooperation with the police, will monitor and control both the sale and the applicable bans on fireworks under the Pyrotechnics Act.
Should penalties for firing firecrackers and fireworks be tightened?
Mountain New Year’s Eve 2022, a photo and video walk, BezirksBlätter Innsbruck article
Bans: Rockets & Co are divided into four categories. Category F1 includes sparklers and tabletop fireworks that may be lit indoors. Category F2 are, for example, Swiss firecrackers (so-called “pirates”), firecrackers and rockets. These may be fired by people over the age of 16, but only outside of the local area. For categories F3 and F4 – high-impact rockets and firework bombs – the minimum age is 18 years. This also requires special expertise and a pyrotechnic permit.
Should the sale of pyrotechnics and firecrackers be banned in Innsbruck?
Mountain New Year’s Story
After the discussion about the INNS staging 2019/20 and the fireworks at the turn of the year 2020/21 due to Corona, there was a new urban concept for the turn of the year 21/22. The fireworks on the Seegrube also took place on 21./22. instead of. Light plays a role in this concept of “Walk Through Light” a role important. The forecourt at the Hofburg, the Tyrolean State Theater with the House of Music, the old town near the Golden Roof, the cathedral square and the market square with the silhouette of Mariahilf became a walk in the light.
Bergsilvester 21/22, the fireworks on the Seegrube (video)
New Year’s Eve 2020/21
Innsbruck was the only provincial capital in Austria to stage fireworks at the turn of the year 20/21. The planned light show in the city center and old town was not possible due to the lockdown regulation and was postponed to 2021/22. The fireworks on the Seegrube last four minutes. The costs were around 40,000 euros, offered a total of around 14,000 individual effects and around 4000 launch mortars were in use. There was criticism of the possibility of people being encouraged to gather on the street despite exit restrictions. The city officials, on the other hand, speak of a “signal of hope” for the new year and the return of a little normality.
The other (sad) New Year’s balance sheet 2022, BezirksBlätter Innsbruck article
New Year’s Eve 2019/20
The organizers were satisfied, politicians called for a debriefing and there was sharp criticism on social media. die INNS’ staging occupied minds. Around 1,200 floating pontoons form the floating jetty with a length of around 200 meters. 80 pumps were installed on the pontoon bridge floating in the Inn, the fountain height was up to 70 meters. Around 300 people worked in the run-up to and on New Year’s Eve for the Innsbruck New Year’s Eve and worked a total of around 2,000 hours. Municipal politicians are disappointed by the INN`s presentation. While the first rows were certainly still satisfied, there was criticism of the random view of what was happening and the dense visitor traffic.
Party yes, riot no, on the fireworks ban, BezirksBlätter Innsbruck article
At the beginning of December 2016, the city senate decided unanimously that the fireworks in Innsbruck would take place for the last time on New Year’s Eve 2016. At that time there were several reasons for the abolition of fireworks: On the one hand there are stricter EU guidelines for shooting off fireworks, according to City Councilor Franz Gruber (ÖVP, December 2016). Environmental protection reasons such as animal welfare or fine dust pollution after a fireworks display also spoke against another fireworks display. Another problem is the risk of fire, as in previous years.
Should the fireworks be carried out on the Seegrube?
Council says yes
In the last municipal council meeting, the FPÖ made an urgent request. The reason: “The Tiroler Tageszeitung of August 21, 2022 reported that Mayor Georg Willi and the Managing Director of Innsbruck Marketing, Heike Kiesling, want to organize a New Year’s Eve in the mountains without fireworks. Since this was not discussed with the responsible bodies of the Innsbruck municipal council nor was it ever discussed in a meeting, in order to be able to start the necessary planning for the New Year’s Eve 2022/2023 early enough, the above resolution text or application will be submitted to the population and the numerous guests, who travel to Innsbruck especially for the mountain New Year’s Eve.”
Was required:
- The New Year’s Eve celebrations 2022/2023 and the lnnsbruck Mountain New Year’s Eve will be accompanied by fireworks at the Seegrube at the turn of the year, analogous to the year 2021/2022.
- In accordance with resolution point 1, the mayor WILL be commissioned to take all necessary measures to ensure the fireworks on the Seegrube, whether in cooperation with Innsbruck Marketing GmbH or in another relevant way.
- These fireworks should take place at least as long as at the turn of the year 2021/2022.
majority decision (with abstentions by GR Gasser, GR Heisz and GR Winkel, 3 votes; against GRÜNE and ALI, 11 votes): The motion is accepted according to the content.
That was the municipal council, BezirksBlätter Innsbruck article
In the municipal council discussion, the individual positions of the parliamentary groups were again emphasized. So explained GR Irene Heisz: SPÖ finds fireworks outdated, but still welcome in the city. The real problem is the banging in the streets. GR Janine Bex: “Don’t agree, like every year. In 2016, the city senate last decided on the New Year’s Eve fireworks. Now it is discussed further every year. They don’t want to subsidize it from the public sector. The fireworks cost 70,000 euros this year. It has also become more expensive. Money being blown up pointlessly – would rather donate that to a social cause.” Mayor Georg Willi: “May I remind you, in 2016 it was clearly decided that no more fireworks. Everyone who has animals knows how exhausting New Year’s Eve is. Fireworks are not allowed in the city, but they can hardly be controlled.” StR Christine Oppitz-Plörer: “It is only half the truth that there will be no fireworks in 2016. It was also decided that either another light show from the mountains WILL be developed for everyone to see. The city festival and carnival have been cancelled. This is the last bastion. Fireworks are part of the city, until there are alternatives.” Vice Mayor Mark
Lassenberger: “The laser show cost 500,000 euros, not like this frowned upon, expensive fireworks show. Drone shows are not feasible and too expensive, said the manager. We don’t have a problem with the regulated fireworks, but with the private ones (about 25 percent of Innsbruck households). You can read the entire discussion in the GR article in the Innsbruck district newspaper.
democracy question
Mayor Georg Willi announced to the radio station U1 that he in any case wanted to stick to the fact that no fireworks will be lit on the Seegrube this year, although in last week’s municipal council all factions except the Greens voted for the fireworks to be held on the Bergsilvester 2022/23 the ÖVP Innsbruck in a press release. “Such an approach by an Innsbruck mayor is unprecedented.
Two-thirds of the municipal council decided on the fireworks, so it is now the mayor’s job and duty to implement the New Year’s fireworks. Any ideological reasons and bogus arguments to prevent it must not be put forward again. Resolutions of the municipal council when and but are implemented, even if they do not pass a personal political.
Anyone who doesn’t do this is simply endangering democracy.” LA GR Christoph Appler Sharp criticism of Georg Willi.
Appeal to refrain from private fireworks
“We can use the situation this year to bite the citizens, enjoy the traditional large fireworks display on the Nordkette and not hold private fireworks ourselves, so that the air quality and noise pollution on New Year’s Eve improve, true to the motto class instead of bulk,” concludes Appler. Mayor Willi’s announcement met with complete incomprehension StR Rudi Federspiel. “A municipal council resolution is a clear mandate for the mayor and not negotiable, he was clearly commissioned with the implementation in the accepted application,” Federspiel Mayor Willi takes on. “The omissions in terms of further development of the Bergsilvester are mainly due to the green faction,” recalls Federspiel to numerous suggestions and concepts. “The event at the turn of the year is a prime example of the Greens’ lack of economic competence, especially in the tourism sector.”
There is full support from StR Rudi Federspiel in appealing for private fireworks to be avoided. “The city must finally take action here. NHT, TIGEWOSI, IIG and Co. must provide tenants with comprehensive information about the prohibition regulations and also show the consequences. All other media channels must also be used to report the day-long firing of firecrackers and other To finally put a stop to fireworks before New Year’s Eve.”